Can-testing machine.



0 B. M DONALDK: J. E. MQGULLOUGH.

- CAN TESTING MACHINE. \APPLIOATION FILED 1730.38, 1909 1 01 35796, Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

VIIIIIAI'IIII/III.

{ INVENTQRSa-A WITNESSE5 enrrnn snares rarnnrorrion.

CHARLES B. MCDONALD AND JOHN E. MoCULLOUGI-I, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO MCDONALD MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CAN-TESTING- MACHINE.

Specification of Lettei's Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1909. Serial No. 535,252.

I l To all whole itma/y concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. MCDON- ALD and Join: MoGULLoUcH, both citi- Zens of the United States, and both residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Testing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates -to can testers of the general style shown and described in applications Serial No. 436,009, filed June 1, 1908, and No. 459,679, filed October 27, 1908.

The object of the present invention is to effect an improvement inthe form of pressure-actuated mechanism of the type shown anddescribed in said application S. N. 459,679 (issued as Patent No. 945,573 of date, January 4, 1910)which pressure actuated mechanism automatically operates to.

reject the defective cans from the testing machine, the improvement consisting in the use of a new form of pressure-actuated piston for. operating the catch hook of said 'pressure'actuated mechanism. I

The invention consistsin the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of' the pressure-actuated mechanism in 'released position; Fig. 2, a similar view of the same, showing the parts in engaged position; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the cone-bearing for the testing wheel, to-

gether with portions of/ the wheel; Fig. 4, a

cross sectional view of the same; Figfo'yan enlarged detail of one of the sealing heads; Fig. 6, anenlarged detail, showing in section the preferred form of piston for use in the pressure-actuated mechanism; and Fig. 7 an enlarged detail of a modified form of the piston.

In describing the features'of the present invention, it is not "deemed necessary to enter into a full description of the construction and arrangement of the testing wheel, the sealing heads, and the can discharge chute, since these features are fully d'escribed in the applications previously referred to and particularly in said applica tion S. N. 459,679 (issued as Patent No.

As shown in Fig. 3, the testing wheel of eled on its inner 'face to fit the 00 e, and

which is secured to a flange 14 on the hubby means of bolts'or in any other suitable man Patented Jan. 2,1912.

nor. These features are "fully ie'scribed in the above mentioned applications and further description is-deeinedunnecessry.

The cone has formed therein-an aisupply passage 15 which receives air under pressure from a pipe 16, and the air supply passage 7 is adapted to register with any one of a plurality of passages 17, which communicate with a series of sealing heads 18 by means of sections of rubber hose 19. A valve mechanism 16 controls the admission of airfrom a main supply pipe 16* to the pipe 16, and this valve mechanism 16 is controlled by means of a rod 16 and connections actuated by the clamping head. .However, further discussion of this mechanism is deemed unnecessary, in view of the previously referred to application. It will be understood that each of the sealing heads is thus provided with a pipe, which is adapted to receive air under pressure from the main'supply pipe at a suitable point in the revolution of the Wheel. Each of the sealing heads cooperates with a clamping head 20 adapted to be actuated by means of suitable links, and levers 21 actuated by cams or other suitable mechanism. The method of actuating these clamping heads is fully explained-in the applications above referred to.

In addition to the pressure supply pas sage the cone is provided with an oatleli passage 22, which communicates with a tester pipe 23 leading to the pressure-actuated mechanism 24, which 'pressure actuated mechanism more especially forms the subject natter 'of the present invention. The supply passage is so located as to fill each of the ans with air under pressure immediatel 'fter its engagement with the clamping head, which. pressure thus supplied will be retainedwvithin the can, if the latter be perfect, unliil the passage 17 has almost a completed its circle of travel and is brought into register with the o'itlet passage 22 which communicates with the pressure actuated testing device. it during the course of its tra 'el the can has allowed a reduction of pressure due to leakage, this fact will be ascertained by the pressure actuated testing device, and suitable mechanism setin motion whereby such defective can will be thrown out at a suitable discharge point.

"The testing; mechanism or dcv'i-e of the present. invention is incloscd within a box 25, and its form is as follows: The pipe 23 communicates with a piston 26 of any suit able design. so that air pressure from the pipe 33, acting on the piston 26, will tend to raise the piston. finsprifi is adapted to oppose the upward motion of the piston, and the amount of compression can be suitably regulated by means of an adjustable nut 28, or in any other suitable manner. The piston 26, in its preferred form, has its upper edge beveled, so that it takes the form. of a truncated cone. it. gasket or washer 29 contacts the upper beveled surface of the piston and tits into a grooved recess 30 in the inner wall of the piston chamber 31. It will be seen that an. upward movement of the piston, due to increase of air pressure beneath it, will increase the sealingtendency of the gasket or washer, by reason of the increased pre sure which it exerts uponthe piston and piston chamber, and thathis increased sealing tendency is exerted just at the time when it is most needed,-

that is, when the air pressure has been increased; and also that the greater the air pressure and consequent mm ement of the piston the greater will be the sealing tendency.

The piston. 26 is adapted to operate through the medium of the piston rod 32 on the short arm 33 of a bell crank pivoted at 34- to the fame of the pressure-actuated mechanism. The long arm 35 of the bell crank is connected by a pin 36 to a link 37, which link is connected by a pin 38 to the short arm 3) of a hook lever, the long arm 40 of which carries, at its lower end, a hook 41. The hook lever is pivoted at $2 toa bracket 13 firmly attached to the frame of the pressure-actuatcd mechanism. It is evident that a very slight movement of the piston will cause a considerable movement oththc hook, by reason of the connection of the long arm oi. the bell crank with the short arm of the hook lever.

The hook 41 is adapted to cngaoe a. lug l-t attached to an actuating rod to which is slidably mounted within a slcevilfor guideway l6, and is provided,;on its lower end, with a cam head l-T, the side face 48 of which is flattened, and is adapted, when the pin is dro iped, to yengage a sprii'ig-supported ,pin il-l) outwardly projecting from the l'ace of a cam wheel 50. A spring 49* tends to constantly maintain said pin in projected position. The cam wheel is 0% such shape that a pin 51, riding on its edge and attached to the actuating rod 15, will be carried up and down with the rotation of the cam wheel when the lug it-4t is not in engagement: with the hook ll. The cam wheel mounted on a shaft 52 driven by means of a bevel pinion 53, or in any suitable manncr, so that the/cam wheel will make one complete revolution for the movement of each can on the rim 8 past a given point. The spring-supported pin 4-9 is adapted to engage the upper end of a lever 54, which is pivoted at 55 and is adapted to actuatc'a discharging runway for discharging the cans from the machine, which run way is of the general character of that shown and. described in said application S. X. 436,009 (issued as Patent No. 938,165). The upper end of the lever S t normally underlies a pivoted catch "linger 55, which is held in engagement with the lever by means of a spring 56. The catch finger is provided with a depending tooth 57 which, when the lever 54 is thrust back, as shown in Fig. 1., will hold the lever against a return movement until the revolution of the cam wheel has brought a stop pin.58 under the end of the catch tinge 55, thereby rais ing it and allowing the lever to resume its normal position.

in use, the cans are fed in succession to the tester wheel in any suitable manner,'

and are successively clamped in position againstthe sealing heads, each can in turn receiving its charge of air under pressure and is carried around to practically a complete revolution until it' is brought into communication with the tester. If the pressure within the am is reduced by leakage, the pressure actuated mechanism will operate in the manner described in theabove mentioned application. Serial No. 459,679.

It is not intended to limit our invention to the use of a piston of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in Fig. 6, but it is contemplated to use any suitable form of piston; such, for example, shown in Fi 'l', in which figure the piston 59 contacts on its upper face against a gasket 60, of rubbercr other suitable material, in such a wayas to increase the pressure between the parts when the increased air pressure from the pipe .23 forces thepiston upward.

In practice we prefer to form the piston box in the manner slmwn in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein we. provide a removable cap 61 threaded into the body of the box 31, so that, by unscrewing the parts, the piston, gasket, spring, etc, may be removed for ad justment, replacement, or cleaning.

in this application where we use the word piston, we do not limit ourselves necessarily to the use of a piston of the design shown,

but wishto include also pistons of the ordinary style acting in properly arranged piston chambers.

We claim:

1. In a testing device of the class described, the combination of an actuating pin, a finger on the same, a nook lever suitably pivoted to a stationary' portion of the tester,-a bell crank lever suitably pivoted to a stationary portion of the tester, a link connecting one arm of the bell crank with one arm of the hook lever, an air chamber and a pneumatic piston therefor in engagement with the other arm of the bell crank, the air chamber being in communication with a device under test, substantially as described.

2. In a testing device of the class described, the combination of an actuating pin, a finger on the same, a hook lever suitably pivoted to a stationary portion ofthe tester, a bell crank lever suitably pivoted to astationary portion'of the tester, a link connecting one arm of the bell crank with one arm of'the hook lever, a pneumatic chamber having its walls inwardly and upwardly beveled in communication with a device under test, a piston within the chamber, and havv ing its side wall inwardly and upwardly beveled, a compression sealing ring interposed between the side wall of the piston and the side wall of the chamber, and a piston rod on the piston in engagement with substantially as described.

3. In a testing device of the class described, the combination of an actuating pin, a finger on the same, a hook lever suitably pivoted to a stationary portion of the tester, a bell crank leversuitably pivoted to astationary portion of the tester, a link con necting one arm of the bell crank with one arm of the hook lever, a pneumatic chamber having its walls inwardly and upwardly beveled in communication with a device under test, a piston within -the chamber, and having its side wall inwardly and upwardly beveled, a compression sealing ring interposed between the side wall of the piston and the side wall of thechamber, means tending to restore the piston into lowered nected at one .end to the position against fluid pressure within the chamber, and a piston rod on the piston in engagement with the free-arm of the 'bell crank, substantially as described.

4. In a testing ,deviceof the class described, the combination of an actuating pin, a finger on the same, a hook lever suitably pivoted to a stationa ortion of the tester, a bell crank lever sulta 1y pivoted to a stationary portion of the tester, a link connecting one arm of the bell crank with one arm of the hook lever, a pneumatic chamber having its walls inwardly and upwardly beveled in communication with adevice under test, apiston within the chamber", and having its side wall inwardly and upwardly beveled, a compression sealin' posed between the side wall oft e piston and the side wall of the chamber, a spring normally tending to restore the piston into initial position against fluid pressure within the chamber, means for adjusti the tension ring interon said spring, and a iston ro on the piston in engagement wit the free arm of the bell crank, substantially'as described.

5. In a can testing machine, the combination of a pressure chamber in communicacation with a device under test, a piston in said pressure chamber, an actuating member, a series of pivoted levers operativelyconpiston and at the opposite end to the actuating members, said levers am lifying the movements of the iSc ton to e' ect an operation of the actuatin member thereby, substantially as describe 6. In a can testing machine, the combination of a pressure chamber in communication with a device under test, a piston in said pressure chamber, an actuating member,

levers extending between the piston and 'ac--. member for communicating move-i;

tuatin ment om the piston to the actuating member, a hook connection between the actuating member and the lever movement of the piston being amplified by said levers, substantially as described.

' CHARLES ,B. MCDONALD.

JOHN E.,'MOCULLOU;GH.

Witnesses: PETER S. ERIKsoN, E. U. MCDONALD. 

